THE Rapid Solicitors Elite League have made rule changes for this season’s Challenge Cup.

All group matches will now go to overtime and penalty shots to decide a winner.

The cup, as usual, will be split into two groups of five. Braehead Clan, Belfast Giants, Dundee Stars, Edinburgh Capitals and Fife Flyers will compete in Group A, with Coventry Blaze – who signed Canadian defenceman Michael Schutte at the weekend – Cardiff Devils, Hull Stingrays, Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers playing in Group B.

A two-legged quarter-final round has been introduced, with the winners progressing to the two-legged semi-finals.

The two remaining teams will progress to the final, also played over two legs.

In the knockout stages, first-leg matches will only be counted until 60 minutes (no overtime or penalties) but the deciding second leg will have a five-minute overtime period (four-on-four) and penalty shots if necessary. Each side will take three penalty shots and, if scores are still level after three shots, sudden-death penalties will follow.

Nottingham Panthers are the current Challenge Cup champions and have won the tournament for the past three years. Last year, the Panthers beat Belfast Giants 10-4 over two legs.